Breaking News!!: Needles, CA: Death investigation into a body floating along the Colorado River near Jack Smith Memorial Park.

Breaking News!!: Needles, CA: Death investigation into a body floating along the Colorado River near Jack Smith Memorial Park.

According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, at approximately 4:24pm PT on Sunday, November 5th, 2017, deputies from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department’s Colorado River Station were dispatched to a body floating in the Colorado River just south of Jack Smith Memorial Park in needles, California.

A deputy with the Marine Enforcement Unit launched a patrol boat and made contact with the reporting party, who had stayed along side the body until the deputy arrived on scene.

The deceased was recovered from the river and transported to Jack Smith Memorial Park were he was released to the coroner.

The coroner was able to identify the male subject as 46 year old Chad Russell Elkins from Fort Mohave, Arizona with the assistance of the Mohave County Sheriff’s Department.

The cause of death is currently under investigation.

The investigation is ongoing and anybody with additional information regarding this investigation is urged to contact the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department’s Colorado River Station at: 1 (760) 326-9200.

ZachNews was alerted late Sunday evening about something spotted along the Colorado River and fire department and rescue boat activity Jack Smith Memorial Park thanks to ZachNews fans Ronna Johnson and Terry Powell from Needles, California.

Ronna Johnson telling ZachNews by email, “My family and I went out on the boat for the first time today. While we were out boat my son seen something floating at about 4:30. I called 911 it was a dead body.”

Terry Powell telling ZachNews by email, “My mom and sister live in the house looking into Jack Smith Park. They noticed rescue boat docked, picked up 2 people and left to go out to river, then yellow + white ambulance or ME examr truck pulled up along with fire captain truck or smaller fire truck. Flashing lights but no sirens. Rescue boat returned but by then dark and they couldn’t tell what was happening.”

** ZachNews sends our thoughts, prayers, and condolences to the family and friends of Chad Russell Elkins from Fort Mohave, Arizona. **